Find 2 Missing Critical Points for x' = y(1 + x - y2) and y' = x(1 + y - x2)

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding critical points for the system of differential equations given by x' = y(1 + x - y²) and y' = x(1 + y - x²). Participants explore methods for identifying these points, including substitutions and solving equations derived from setting the derivatives to zero.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant identifies the critical point (0,0) and finds additional points (0,1) and (0,-1) by substituting y = 0 into the equations.
  • Another participant suggests a method of analyzing the equations by treating them as products and outlines possible cases for setting the derivatives to zero.
  • There is a proposal to solve the equations 1 + x - y² = 0 and 1 + y - x² = 0 to find additional critical points.
  • A later post discusses a different system of equations and the process of finding critical points, including a correction to a previous equation.
  • Participants engage in a back-and-forth about the methods used to find critical points and the implications of their findings.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the methods for finding critical points but have not reached a consensus on all the points identified, particularly regarding the second system of equations introduced later in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the solutions over real numbers versus complex numbers, and there are corrections made to earlier claims regarding the equations.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in differential equations, critical point analysis, and mathematical reasoning in the context of dynamical systems may find this discussion beneficial.

Somefantastik
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x' = y(1 + x - y2)
y' = x(1 + y - x2).

C.P. => (x,y) s.t. f(x) = 0

[tex]f(x) = x' = 0 => y = 0[/tex]

[tex]f(x) = y' = 0 => x = 0[/tex]

=> (0,0) is c.p.

plug x = 0 into x':

[tex]x' = y(1 - y^{2}) => y = 0, y =\ ^{+}_{-}1[/tex]

=> (0,1), (0,-1) are critical points.

plug y = 0 into y':

[tex]y' = x(1 - x^{2}) => x = 0, x =\ ^{+}_{-}1[/tex]

=> (1,0), (-1,0) are critical points.

Can someone help me find the 2 critical points that I am missing?

Thanks.
 
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You have

x' = y(1 + x - y2)
y' = x(1 + y - x2).

Think of these as

x' = a*b
y' = c*d

Therefore for x' = 0 you can have a = 0 OR b = 0 and for y' = 0 you can have c = 0 OR d = 0 i.e. your possible pairs are

1) a = 0, c = 0
2) a = 0, d = 0
3) b = 0, c = 0
4) b = 0, d = 0

this translates to

1) y = 0, x = 0
2) y = 0, 1 + y - x^2 = 0 i.e. 1 - x^2 = 0, i.e. x = +/-1
3) 1 + x - y^2 = 0, x = 0 i.e. y = +/-1

Now the ones you are missing i.e.

4) 1 + x - y^2 = 0 and 1 + y - x^2 = 0

Using the first equation you get x = y^2 - 1 so plug that into the 2nd equation and you get 1 + y - (y^2 - 1)^2 = 0 which you can solve.

Does that help?
 
Yeah, it really does. Thanks a lot. For some reason I had trouble with this same thing back in intermediate DE too. Thanks for giving me a better perspective.
 
What if I have

x' = 16x2 + 9y2 - 25
y' = 16x2 + 162

Would i find x(y) when x' = 0 and plug into y'?
 
I assume your 2nd equation is y' = 16x^2 + 16y^2?

You would set both equal to 0 like normally

x' = 0 gives you 16x^2 = 25 - 9y^2

y' = 0 gives you 16x^2 + 16y^2 = 0, subst. that in and you get

25 - 9y^2 + 16y^2 = 0 i.e. 25 + 7y^2 = 0 which doesn't seem to have any solutions over R but are you allowed to work with C?

Remember you are essentially finding where these 2 functions(f(x,y) = x' and g(x,y) = y') so you can use whatever method you want, subst., putting them in a matrix if they are linear, etc.
 
The back of the book claims (1,1), (-1,-1), (-1,1), (1,-1) are the critical points.

Aaaaaaaaaaaand, typo :*(

y' = 16x2 - 16y2.

Sorry about that; I was really tired and frustrated when I posted earlier.
 
Ok so now you have

x' = 16x^22 + 9y^2 - 25
y' = 16x^2 - 16y^2,

As I said, set both equal to 0, the first one gives you 16x^2 = 25 - 9y^2, plug that into the 2nd one and you get 25 - 9y^2 - 16y^2 = 0, can you solve that?
 
Yeah; I got it. Thanks for your help.
 
Last edited:

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